I have been with Microsoft since 2002, but I have been with Dynamics even longer, starting out with a Dynamics NAV partner in 1992. I currently lead the Partner Programs team in the US Dynamics organization and look forward to keeping in touch with the US Dynamics Partner Community on this blog.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the individual and do not necessarily represent those of Microsoft. This information is provided by way of general information only and should not be relied on without obtaining independent expert advice. These postings are provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confer no rights. You assume all risk for your use.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 is, without a doubt, the most important launch of Microsoft Dynamics CRM since we first created our online service. It brings to you a host of capabilities, empowering you to reimagine how CRM can increase your customer’s competitive advantage.

Because of the scope of this release, consuming it in a way that brings innovative solutions to customers will take diligent effort. We have begun that journey with the training blitzes, the FY14 kickoff event and other launch readiness resources. But the first 30 days in market will spur a whole new set of questions you haven’t anticipated. eXtremeCRM Anaheim is the place to get your real-world questions answered. It is where the Microsoft Dynamics CRM community comes together to deepen their knowledge. The R&D team as well as others who have been working with the product since pre-release will be there to fill in all the gaps.

In addition to great readiness on our current release, I’ll be presenting the closing keynote at eXtremeCRM on Wednesday, November 6th, providing you with unique insight to where our roadmap is headed. If you think Orion is a great release, wait until you see what other constellations are in the sky.

eXtremeCRM Anaheim, created by CRM partners, for CRM partners, presents you with a unique opportunity to rise above others in your field by equipping you with information you can’t find anywhere else.

If you haven’t registered, I urge you to check out their website to see a full agenda.

First of it's kind - It's never been easier to get your team trained and certified!

Based on partner feedback, we now have virtual online trainingsupported by a live instructor. This course will be held after business hours (6pm to 10 pm) and enable CRM Partners to more cost effectively get their team trained and avoid travel costs and downtime.

We are providing a training program to focus not only on helping new individuals prepare for certification. You will be learning from trainers with real world experience and we using a case study to enable real hands on experience! The program for consultants build comprehensive insights to the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 product. This training will set consultants on the road to being successful and contributing to your organization’s bottom line.

Exclusive to our inaugural offering partners will save 20% off the list price! (subject to the capacity constraints of this initial offering)

For many of you this is a key priority, and Microsoft Dynamics is here to accelerate that. We have sharpened our pencils and designed some game-changing ERP SMB promotions proven to aggressively increase Microsoft Dynamics’ market presence while boosting revenue for both Microsoft and Dynamics Partners. Additionally, we wanted to reward your successes and fuel your business for future growth with an appropriate partner Incentive.

Microsoft is pleased to announce a portfolio of promotions and incentives designed to stimulate and accelerate Microsoft Dynamics ERP SMB Customer Adds! Refer to PartnerSource for full details and the complete terms (aka the small print) and attend the upcoming Promotion/Incentive Overview call on Tuesday, October 1 (register by clicking here) to learn more!

You are invited to an online 2-hour Training Blitz update for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013.

If you joined us for the July Readiness Blitz, you won’t want to miss this update! This session will provide an update on pricing and licensing, and the customer update experience. There will also be sessions on industry scenarios, compete, and the new customer resource portal.

During this event you will have direct LIVE access to Microsoft experts who will be there to answer your questions and support this training experience.

With the product launch coming soon, be sure to use this opportunity to build your readiness capability.

After 15+ years with Microsoft and originally Great Plains Software – the whole time focused on Microsoft Business Solutions & Microsoft Dynamics – I’ve decided to the leave the organization. I’ll be joining my new company later this month. They are a Microsoft ISV, so perhaps we’ll run into each other at Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in the future. Today is officially my last day at Microsoft.

My time here has been an incredible journey with a sense of “growing up” along the way, having joined Great Plains Software straight out of college like several other individuals before and after me.

I’ve always been a super fan of the Microsoft Dynamics partner channel having worked with many of you in one shape or another throughout my career. Partners are the livelihood of our business. Where would Microsoft be without you?

I’ve had the honor to work with the Microsoft Dynamics channel throughout my various roles in partner account management, readiness, marketing, resourcing, and development programs. It is fabulous to see companies I trained during New Partner Orientation years ago now in the spotlight as they earn the honor of President’s Club. This is a group which I feel completely blessed to have learnt so much from over the years!

I am also a huge fan of our products and solutions. My first gig was working the Message Center in Technical Support for our DOS based product Great Plains Accounting v9. Going from GPA DOS to ramping the very first Microsoft CRM partners with v1.0, and then watching the shift to the cloud with CRM Online and ERP Azure has been phenomenal. We have totally awesome solutions that continue to innovate!

For those of you who have been active followers of this blog, I want to extend a huge “thank you” for your support. The blog was started almost 5 years ago as an engine to help partners navigate through the plethora of communications shared by Microsoft. I hope the blog has enabled you to access key information faster or help you discover something new. As to the future of the blog, I expect a short interruption of service, and it to continue as strong as ever once the proper individuals and teams are aligned. You will be in good hands!

Finally, I’ll leave you with a quote that I think of regularly to feel a daily sense of accomplishment. It was delivered by Jim Valvano 20 years ago at ESPN’s ESPY Awards – “If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special.”

Earlier this week at the sold out Directions EMEA 2013 conference in Vienna, Austria, Microsoft announced the upcoming availability of Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 R2 in October 2013. This release builds on the great momentum we’ve seen since launching Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 last year and further reinforces the value of Microsoft Dynamics NAV as a business solution from Microsoft that is quick to implement, easy to use, and with the power to support your business ambitions.

For more information, please read Paul White’s complete blog post on The Edge.

In order to ensure that we can deliver the best event experience, the timeliest and most actionable information, and the highest level of participation for you at the Microsoft Dynamics AX Technical Conference, the dates for the upcoming event are changing from November 12-14, 2013 to February 3-5, 2014.